Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bern or Sao Paulo?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Sao Paulo
With a population of around 11 million, and 20 million in the metropolitan area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It's also one of the wealthiest cities in the southern hemisphere, although you don't have to look far to see the income disparities and inequalities that exist. The city is diverse and culturally rich, with excellent food, music, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, and The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $270Sao Paulo $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $270, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $48. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $175Sao Paulo $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $350Sao Paulo $54
Compare Hotels in Bern and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Sao Paulo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bern Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $36Sao Paulo $5.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $235
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $220
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $198
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $28
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport to Sao Paulo: $28
- Private Transfer from Sao Paulo hotels to Santos Cruise Port: $33
- Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $37
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $39
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $40
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $40
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $40
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $40
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $40
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBern $65Sao Paulo $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sao Paulo
For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Traditional Brazilian or Paulistano Cooking Class with a Chef: $130
- Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189
- Street Food Tour in São Paulo with a Local Guide: $248
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $36Sao Paulo $3.70
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $675
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $637
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $83
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $61
- Bern Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $10
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $167
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $173
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $62
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $309
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $553
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $346
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.51
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.21
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.22
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $28
- Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $31
- São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $32
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of the Augusta Street: $32
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo : $32
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $40
- Breakfast Tour in Bom Retiro: $44
- Boat Trip Billings Dam and Experience Bororé Island: $48
- Bus ticket Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $29Sao Paulo $3.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $74
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $165
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $194
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Sao Paulo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Sao Paulo is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Sao Paulo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Sao Paulo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Bern or Sao Paulo?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bern has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Sao Paulo. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bern is generally cooler than Sao Pauloin January. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. Bern usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBern 21°C (70°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
Both Sao Paulo and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Bern is much colder than Sao Paulo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.
In October, Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sao Pauloin April. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBern 13°C (55°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
Both Sao Paulo and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 19°C (66°F)in July.
Bern usually gets more rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBern 3°C (37°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Bern or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Sao Paulo. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty.
In April, Bern is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin October. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBern 11°C (52°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Bern
| Bern | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.